Jane Wilkinson teaches Willow Basket Weaving. Newburgh North Fife

Jane Wilkinson, happy in her teaching.
Summer School with Jane Wilkins Decorative Willow and Felt Basketry.
Make a decorative vessel using traditional willow weaving techniques combined with felted pieces. This course is suitable for complete beginners in both disciplines. Over 3 days you will learn to make a circular willow basket using Scottish grown willows and transform the structure by adding felted pieces into the side weave. You will also be able to thread or tie found objects such as shells, twigs, feathers and beads into the structure in order to produce a unique, sculptural vessel.
Jane Wilkinson makes traditional baskets, woven fences and coracles. She also produces contemporary willow work and has exhibited her craft throughout Scotland, the north of England and New York. She has been weaving since 1995 and has been both chair and vice chair of the Scottish Basket Makers Circle. She has also judged the basketry class at the Royal Highland Show.

Finished baskets of the second day of the course at The Steeple Arts Newburgh North Fife.

Handmade Baskets from nature's colourful materials [Paperback].
In almost every country of the world, there is a tradition of basketmaking, using plants that are indigenous to that particular area. But today, the plastic bag and cardboard box have replaced the basket's role of years gone by. However, there is something quite irresistible about the smell and the tactile appeal of a country hedgerow basket which is not only home-made, but is sometimes even homegrown, and this book aims to revive interest in this traditional and useful craft. The book offers a step-by-step account of how to make a selection of strong, natural-looking baskets using materials gathered from the annual prunings of a wide selection of bushes, and those which are farmed and can be bought in shops. There are step-by-step photographs of the five basic stages of making a simple round basket, followed by photographs of variations of design and weave, such as oval baskets, handles and borders. Finally, there is a picture gallery of original creations which incorporate other gathered materials such as pine cones, leaves and shells. A very useful book. To Buy Now.Handmade Baskets from nature's colourful materials

Basket work in progress and felting.

Class in action.

Jane Wilkinson teaches Willow Basket Weaving.

Jane is offering a further course at Kindrogan Field Studies Centre, Pitlochry in mid October. Phone 01250 870150